Folding bedstead



(No Model.)

B. T. SMITH.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 386,662. Patented July 24, 1888.

N. PETERS Plmwlithognphnr. wauun tm u c.

NITE

EDIVIN T. SMITH, OF FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,662, dated July 24,1888.

Application filed May 16. 1887. Serial No. 238,312.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN T. SMITH, of Fremont, in the county of Dodgeand State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding Beds; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to folding beds of that class known aswardrobe-beds, or those in which a movable or swinging bed-frame isfolded up vertically with a stationary casing when the bed is not inuse.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 isaside elevation of a folding bed embodying my invention, with theswinging or movable part unfolded or in its horizontal position, theside of the casing being broken away to show the interior constructionthereof. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the casing and foldingbedframawith the latter folded and the doors open. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the same.

As illustrated in the said drawings, A indicates as a whole thestationary part or casing of the bed, and B the swinging part orbedframe. The casing A, comprising a rear wall, a, and side walls, a a,is provided with two doors, A A, for closing the front part of thecasing. In its lower part the casing is desirably provided with ahorizontal partition, a forming a compartment, A in which may be placeda drawer, A or which may be otherwise utilized.

The bedframe B consists, principally, of two side rails, B B, and endrail, 13, rigidly attached to the side rails, and two folding legs, I)b, pivoted to the bed-frame. The frame B is pivotally connected with thecasing by pivots (J 0, herein shown as formed upon the ends of a bar, 0,which is aflixed horizontally to the top surface of the partition a,near the front of the casing. Said pivots C O engage open slots orbearing-apertures b I) in the side rails, B B. The open slots orbearing-apertures Z) 1/ are arranged to extend inwardly from the Suchslots obviend faces of the side rails.

(No model.)

onsly allow the frame B to be removed from the casing withoutdisconnecting any of the parts, with the exception of the bedbottom,which is attached to the folding frame and casing in the mannerhereinafter described. The bed-bottom D consists of a flexible fabricattached to the end rail, B of the folding frame B and to the top edgeof the bar 0. Such top edge of the bar is located in aplane somewhatabove the level of the pivotal axis of the bed frame, so that when thebed-fran1e is folded up horizontally thefabric will be loosened,aud whensaid frame is brought into its horizontal position the fabric will bedrawn taut. One important advantage gained by the construcin which theframeB is pivoted to the bar 0, and in which the fabric D is attached atits upper end to said bar, is that the strain upon the parts caused bythe tension of the fabric when the bed is occupied is brought directlyupon the parts of the rectangular frame, consisting vof the bars C, B B,and B, and not upon any intermediate parts or pieces, as common in bedsas heretofore made.

As a novel construction in a fabric for bed bottoms, I make the saidfabric of transverse pieces or slats (Z (Z and longitudinal wires (1 d,the said wires being arranged in pairs with the strips between them andtwisted between the strips in a manner common in the manufacture ofwire-picket fencing. The wires (1 d are attached at the foot and head ofthe bed to the end piece, B, and bar 0 for sustaining the fabric inplace. A bed-bottom made as above described is obviously not only cheapand simple to construct, but easily and conveniently attached to thebed.

In connection with the main parts of the folding bed describedanysuitable construction in a support or head-rest to occupy the spaceat the head of the bed between the bar 0 and the back wall of the casingmay be used.

I have shown in the drawingsa novel device for this purpose, consistingof a folding or swinging support or head-rest, E. Said headrest Econsists of two side bars, E E, pivoted to the casing, near the backwall of the latter, and resting at their front or free ends against thetop surfaces of the side rails, B B, of the folding frame B in suchmanner that the said side bars will rest in a horizontal or inclinedposition, Fig. 1, when the frame Bis horizontal, and will be lifted andstand in a nearly vertical position, Fig. 2, when the bed is folded, thesaid front ends of the side bars being constructed to travel or slide onthe folding frame B as the latter is moved. The two side bars, E E, areconnected by means of a cross-bar, 6, near their free ends, and thespace between said cross-bar and the rear wall of the casing is filledby a series of cross-slats, e e e, which are supported by twisted wires6 6 attached at their ends to the said cross-bai e, and to a cleat, eattached to the said rear wall of the casing. The said bars E E areprovided with anti-friction rollers c e at their front ends,which restupon the rails B B, and thereby allow a free movement of the parts inopening and closing the bed. The pivoted connections between the bars EE and the casing may be made in any desired or preferred manner. Asillustrated, such connections are formed by brackets c 0 affixed to therear wall, a,of the casing, near the side walls thereof, and pivot-pinse 6 held at their ends in said brackets, and in the side walls, a a.

For counter-balancing the weight of the bed frame B, so that thelattermay be easily raised and lowered, I have herein shown devices asfollows: F is a pulley attached to the top of the casing A, inside ofthelatter. G is a vertically-movable weight to which is attached a pulley,G, and H is a cord or rope which is attached to the lower end of theframe B, and is carried upwardly over the pulley F, then downwardly andaround the pulley G, and is then carried upwardly and attached at gtothe top of the casing. The weight G in this construction will obviouslyexert a constant tension upon the rope, tending to raise the lower endof the bed, so that by making the weight sufficiently heavy the weightof the folding frame may be practically counterbalanced, and this madeto move with little exertion. The weight G is desirablylocated closeagainst the rear wall, a, of the casing, and is preferably covered by ahousing, G, forming a tubular guide for the weight and concealing itfrom view. It is to be understood, however, that as far as the otherfeatures of construction in the folding bed shown are concerned acounterbalance-weight may or may not be used.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a folding-bed casing,of a swinging bed-frame, B, a horizontal stationary bar, 0, attached tothe casing, pivots attached to the ends of the bar and engaging theupper ends of the sides of the frame, and a bedbottom consisting of aflexible fabric attached to the said stationary bar 0 and to .the lowerend of the frame, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a stationary folding-bed casing provided with afixed horizon tal partition, ofa bed-frame, B, consisting of an end railand two side rails and a stationary horizontal bar, 0, attached to thesaid partition and provided at its ends with pivots engaging the ends ofthe side rails of the frame, and a flexible bed-bottom secured to thesta tionary bar (land to the lower end of the frame, whereby when thebed is lowered for use the bed-bottom is stretched, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN T. SMITH.

NVitnesses:

FRANK FOWLER, HENRY GUMPERT.

